News In this issue

News

Restarting vaccine campaigns in

Sierra Leone

Validation of the Microplanning

Guide for the Immunization Pro-gramme in Cali, Colombia

Introduction of Measles Rubella

Second Dose - Nepal, a step clos-

er to measles elimination

Appointment of Chair-elect of

Gavi Board

Request for proposal for a Mi-croneedle patch usability and acceptability evaluation

2

2

3

3 4

Upcoming Course 4-5

Past meetings / workshops

EVM Assessment in Nicaragua

Advocacy for immunization supply chains

Third Regional Vaccinology

Course for Francophone countries in the African region

AMP provides training to trainers at Benin LOGIVAC Centre

The Fourteenth Annual Measles & Rubella Initiative Partners Meeting

The Regional Immunization Supply Chain Management Workshop

WHO EURO regional mtg of Nat.

immunization progr managers

Health Care Worker Training in the Integrated Surveillance Infor-mation System

Confederation of Meningitis Or-ganisations (CoMO) Global Con-

ference 2015

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Resources 14-

16

Calendar 17

Links 18

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

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You can click on the article you are

interested in and access it directly! Child mortality rates plunge by more than half since 1990 but global

targets missed Hayatee Hasan, WHO HQ

Child mortality rates have plummeted to less than half of

what they were in 1990, according to a a new report

“Levels and Trends in Child Mortality Report 2015” ─ re-

leased by UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank Group and the

Population Division of UNDESA. Under-five deaths have

dropped from 12.7 million per year in 1990 to 5.9 million

in 2015. This is the first year the figure has gone below the

6 million mark.

The new estimates indicate that although global progress has been substantial, 16 000 children

under-five still die every day. And the 53% drop in under-five mortality is not enough to meet

the Millennium Development Goal of a two-thirds reduction between 1990 and 2015.

Read the news release Read the report

Read the fact sheet on child mortality

WHO Removes Nigeria from Polio Endemic List Hayatee Hasan, WHO HQ

WHO announced today that polio is no longer endemic

in Nigeria. This is the first time that Nigeria has interrupt-

ed transmission of wild poliovirus, bringing the country

and the African region closer than ever to being certified

polio-free. Polio, which can cause lifelong paralysis, has

now been stopped nearly everywhere in the world fol-

lowing a 25-year concerted international effort.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the public-

private partnership leading the effort to eradicate polio, called this a 'historic achievement' in

global health. Nigeria has not reported a case of wild poliovirus since 24 July 2014, and all

laboratory data have confirmed a full 12 months have passed without any new cases.

As recently as 2012, Nigeria accounted for more than half of all polio cases worldwide. Since

then, a concerted effort by all levels of government, civil society, religious leaders and tens of

thousands of dedicated health workers have resulted in Nigeria successfully stopping polio.

More than 200 000 volunteers across the country repeatedly immunized more than 45 million

children under the age of 5 years, to ensure that no child would suffer from this paralysing

disease. Innovative approaches, such as increased community involvement and the establish-

ment of Emergency Operations Centres at the national and state level, have also been pivotal

to Nigeria’s success.

The interruption of wild poliovirus transmission in Nigeria would have been impossible with-

out the support and commitment of donors and development partners. Their continued sup-

port, along with continued domestic funding from Nigeria, will be essential to keep Nigeria

and the entire region polio-free.

Read the news release.

A young boy sitting by the front

door of his house. Credit: WHO/

D. Rodriguez.

School girls looking out of the win-

dow. Credits: WHO/T. Moran.

Page 2

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Restarting vaccine campaigns in Sierra Leone Harriet Mason, UNICEF Sierra Leone

The first set of public health campaigns in Sierra Leone since the start of the

Ebola outbreak were conducted between April and July 2015. The cam-

paigns aimed to reach an estimated 1.5 million under-five children with life-

saving treatments, including malnutrition assessment, Vitamin A and de-

worming tablets, HIV testing for pregnant women, and polio and measles

vaccines. Children aged up to 23 months who had missed routine vaccines

were also identified and vaccinated.

The Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone has weakened basic and essential health

services, undermining trust, and creating restrictions on regular health cam-

paigns. Despite the unprecedented challenges of delivering basic health ser-

vices in this emergency setting, including resistance by some households, the national vaccination campaigns reached

every community with these crucial interventions.

“I’m very happy for the programme and for the medicines that our children are receiving,” said Finda Komba, a resi-

dent of Freetown. “They will help to heal and prevent bad diseases that disrupt the healthy growth of our children.”

Around 10,700 vaccinators and distributors were deployed across the country in door-to-door campaign. A follow-

up vaccination campaign against polio is scheduled for October 2015.

Because of the continued reporting of Ebola cases in Sierra Leone, UNICEF and WHO supported the Government

to develop unique safety protocols for the campaign in line with the ‘No touch policy’ and trained campaign person-

nel on the associated protocols. Over 3,600 hand sanitizers, 1.5 million pairs of gloves and 50,000 disposable aprons,

were also distributed to protect those involved in the campaign. The campaigns conducted in April and June 2015

recorded over 90 per cent coverage with interventions in the target populations.

Using funds from the United States (OFDA), Canada (CIDA) and European Union, UNICEF provided vaccines, sy-

ringes and other equipment, and financial support for logistics and sensitization activities for the campaigns.

Validation of the Microplanning Guide for the Immunization Programme in Cali, Colombia Liliana Alarcon, Secretary of Health-Cali; Doris Revelo, Secretary of Health of the Cauca Valley; Sandra Mena, Secre-

tary of Health-Choco; Diego Alejandro Garcia, Ministry of Health-Colombia; Viviana Calderon; Ana Morice; Bertha

Capistran; Martha Velandia, PAHO

The Comprehensive Family Immunization Unit from PAHO/WHO de-

veloped a Practical Guide for Microplanning the Permanent Immunization

Programme, which was validated on 14-17 September 2015 in the munici-

pality of Santiago de Cali, Colombia. Participants in the validation includ-

ed members of different entities (public and private) responsible for the

Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), as well the EPI at munici-

pal, departmental and national level and representatives from the Na-

tional Department of Planning. The participants indicated that the sequence of stages and steps that are

established in the proposed methodology follow a logical and practical order, linking the processes of situation analy-

sis, programming, monitoring, supervision and evaluation. They also declared that microplanning empowers the

health unit, as it organizes and systematizes the processes, optimizes the use of resources and improves management of

the program. Microplanning cannot be fragmented or isolated from national planning, as it provides an opportunity to

arrange the resources required to comply with the programming of all management levels.

Considering an increase in new vaccines and the transition from child immunization to family immunization, participants

pointed out that in having a territory-based approach that is managed from the bottom up, microplanning enables con-

tact with all of the target groups of the programme in their own areas of responsibility. The incorporation of tools such

as easy-to-build figures and indicators helps to facilitate coverage monitoring and the search for “unvaccinated” peo-

ple. Through the implementation of these tools, coverage gaps are reduced and programme performance is im-

proved. In conjunction with this experience, a specific microplanning guide will be prepared for Colombia that will

be applied through pilot testing, initially in two municipalities: Cali in Cauca Valley and Nuqui in Choco.

A child is vaccinated by a nurse in Free-

town during a vaccination campaign.

Credit: ©UNICEF Sierra Leone/2015/

Mason.

Participants at the validation of the micro-

planning guide in Cali, Colombia. Credit:

Secretary of Health-Cali.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 3

Introduction of Measles Rubella Second Dose - Nepal, a step closer to measles elimination Sanjita Thapa, WHO Nepal

Measles rubella second dose (MRSD) was launched by the Honourable

Minister of Health & Population, Mr. Khaga Raj Adhikari on September

14, 2015 at Kanti Children's Hospital with over 300 people as witness-

es to this very important event in Nepal's EPI program. The launch of

the second dose for measles rubella is yet another milestone in the

national EPI programme which will save thousands of lives in the years

to come.

Participants included the Honorable Minister of Health & Population

(MoHP) Nepal, Secretary - MoHP, Director General of Department of

Health Services, Director - Child Health Division (CHD), WHO Rep-

resentative to Nepal,

Chair - Kanti Children's

Hospital (KCH), Chair -

Nepal Pediatric Society (NEPAS), Representatives from Gavi, the Vaccine

Alliance, Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF, Lion's International, Staff

from KCH and CHD and over 200 people from the community.

Nepal has always demonstrated its commitment to measles elimination

through routine immunization services and periodic supplementary im-

munization activities (SIAs). The introduction of measles vaccine in 1988,

nationwide measles SIAs in

2004/05 & 2008, countrywide

Measles-Rubella (MR) catch up

campaign in 2012/13 and the in-

troduction of MR vaccine as first routine dose of measles vaccine in June

2013, have collectively contributed to the decrease in measles cases by 93%

between 2003 and 2015 (figure I). The coverage with the first dose of measles

vaccine has increased from 58% in 1988 to 87% in 2015.

Measles is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among children and

with the introduction of measles rubella second dose (MRSD), we are ensur-

ing better protection of our children against these diseases. Nepal is commit-

ted to ensuring that no child dies from measles or rubella, or is born

with congenital rubella syndrome and will keep its strong pace on working

towards achieving goal of measles elimination and Rubella/CRS control by

2019 in Nepal.

Appointment of Chair-elect of Gavi Board Hayatee Hasan, WHO HQ

WHO welcomes the appointment of the Chair-elect of the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine

Alliance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. She will take up the position of Chair from January

2016. Dr Okonjo-Iweala is the former Nigerian Finance Minister and she brings more

than 33 years of development and financial expertise to the Gavi Board at a critical peri-

od for immunization in developing countries.

Read the statement by Dr Chan, WHO Director-General Read the statement by Dr Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General

Number of Measles cases, Nepal 2003-2015(Lab-confirmed & Epi-linked)

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Cases 1387 4823 117 73 38 249 31 114 909 664 10 9 101

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

No

. of

case

s

Figure 1

Hon. Minister of Health & Population,

Mr. Khaga Raj Adhikari inaugurating the event

Handover of the MRSD vaccine

The Chair-elect of the

Board of Gavi, the Vaccine

Alliance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-

Iweala.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Institut Pasteur Vaccinology Course Armelle Phalipon and Frédéric Tangy, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

A four week-course taught in English, delivered within the framework of the Pasteur school of Epidemiology and

Public Health, dedicated to candidates with a medical or scientific training background who are interested in all as-

pects of this discipline: medical and public health students, scientific Master II and PhD students (Immunology, Micro-

biology), physicians, pharmacists, veterinarians and other health professionals.

Objectives of the course: to offer an integrated overview of vaccinology, from public health and scientific data justify-

ing the development of a vaccine, to its delivery to the populations in the context of industrialized and developing

countries.

4 modules, about 65 lectures from the experts on the field worldwide

Workshop/e-learning website: Besides the lectures, the teachers will ensure methodology workshops based on a

partnership with the HSeT Foundation which has developed an e-learning website dedicated to the course. Personal-

ized tutoring is also ensured.

Fellowships: Several fellowships will be available thanks to industrial partnerships.

For an overview of Teaching at the Ins@tut Pasteur

To download the 2014 programme of the Vaccinology Course

To register online the deadline is 15 October 2015.

Tuition fees: Students 675€

Self-financing 1349€

Continuing education 2700€

Upcoming courses

Request for proposal for a Microneedle patch usability and acceptability evaluation Gitte Giersing, WHO HQ

WHO’s mission is to improve and increase vaccine coverage against preventable diseases, as well as to accelerate

development and approval and uptake of new vaccines and delivery technologies. As such, the Department of Vac-

cines and Biologicals is addressing these needs through facilitating the development of innovative vaccine improve-

ment and delivery technologies that will improve coverage though easier administration, enable the vaccine to re-

main viable until the last mile, and increase uptake by reducing vaccination costs and simplifying logistics. Microneedle

patches (MNPs) are a novel vaccine delivery technology that may offer many potential benefits for vaccine delivery in

low- and middle- income countries’ (LMIC) immunization programs, such as increased thermostability, efficacy, ease

of delivery, safety of disposal, and low cost. The acceptability and logistical fit of immunizing children with MNPs in

LMIC campaign settings has yet to be investigated, and is key to evaluating the potential utilization of this technology

beyond its technical feasibility. With this in mind, the WHO is announcing a Request for Proposals for a MI-

CRONEEDLE PATCH USABILITY & ACCEPTABILITY EVALUATION. The closing date for proposals is 23 October

2015. More information can be found at this link.

Page 4

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 5

Registration Now Open for International Master 2 in Vaccinology (MIVA) and Master 2 in

Management (Master 241) Eustache Agboton and Alice Henry-Tessier, Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP)

AMP (Agence de Médecine Préventive) and Félix Houphouët-Boigny University (Côte d’Ivoire), Abomey-Calavi University (Benin),

University of Lomé (Togo), Polytechnic University of Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) and Paris Dauphine University (France) have opened registration for the second intake for the International Master 2 in Vaccinology (MIVA) and the International Master 2 in

Management (Master 241).

The MIVA and Master 241 degrees, which were set up as part of the EpiVacPlus programme, aim to improve immunization sys-

tems in eleven sub-Saharan countries (particularly at district level) by strengthening the managerial and technical skills of district

medical officers.

The two courses are open to candidates with a Master 1 or a CES / DES in public health, economics or related fields.

The classroom learning phase for both courses is scheduled for 23 November-19 December 2015 at Abidjan’s Félix Houphouët-

Boigny University. This will be followed by a distance-learning component (44 weeks) during the work-place tutoring (eleven

months), leading to an operational research thesis to be defended in front of an international panel. Students will be awarded ei-

ther the MIVA or Master 241, depending on the specialization chosen for the second semester.

Registration is open until 15 October 2015.

Advanced Vaccinology course

Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité –

Universitätsmedizin, Berlin

Location: Berlin, Germany

Date: 11 – 22 January 2016 (Deadline for application, prefer-

ably 20th October 2015)

Participants: Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin and University of

Antwerp, Belgium

Participants from the 2014 Advanced vaccinology

course.

Purpose: The course covers state-of-the-art updates on recent global developments in the field of vaccinology. It

is run in partnership between the Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charité –

Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the University of Antwerp, Belgium. A wide range of lecturers contrib-

ute to the course teaching, coming from various institutions, from academia, the pharmaceutical indus-

try, encompassing a wide array of regional and thematic expertise.

Details: An introduction to new vaccines, new financing initiatives and related policy issues will be provided.

Basic epidemiological, ethical and regulatory issues related to the assessment of vaccine efficacy and

effectiveness in different world regions will be compared, while appraising issues of public confidence in

vaccination programmes. The course also provides an overview of economic aspects of vaccination

programmes and ways in which health professionals may be assisted in designing, planning, and imple-

menting immunization programmes (with a strong focus on developing countries).

Page 6

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Past Meetings/Workshops Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) Assessment in Nicaragua

Nora Lucia Rodriguez, PAHO-Washington, DC

Location: Nicaragua

Date: 28 May—12 June 2015

Participants: National health workers from the Ministry of

Health-Nicaragua and international evaluators from

the World Health Organization (WHO) and the

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) partici-

pated in the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM)

assessment.

Purpose: To analyze Nicaragua’s Cold Chain, vaccine supply

chain and vaccine management operations.

National and international assessment team,

Nicaragua, June 2015. Credit: Nora Rodriguez.

Details: During the assessment, 47 randomly-selected storage and health facilities were visited and their

records were assessed between 1 May 2014 and 30 April 2015. The 47 sites included 12 of the

19 Local Systems for Integral Health care (SILAIS) at the sub-national level, 17 vaccine stores

from the lower distribution level and 17 service delivery points; furthermore, the evaluation in-

cluded the National Vaccine Store (CENABI). A total of eight teams were responsible for data collection. Each team included one international

assessor and two to three national health workers. Before the evaluation, a review of the EVM

tools and methodology was carried out in order to standardize the knowledge and management

of 1) the EVM tool and 2) the structured questionnaires. In its first EVM assessment, Nicaragua obtained an overall average score of 93%, a significant

achievement considering that 80% is the minimum score established by EVM. This included the

score reached for the four levels of the supply chain that is in place in the country and the nine

evaluated criteria of the EVM. With 93% as the average score achieved at the time of the assess-

ment, Nicaragua ranked first among the top 80 EVM assessments performed worldwide since

2009. The primary level scored 92%, the sub-national level scored 96%, the lowest distribution

level scored 93% and the service delivery level scored 93%.

Page 7

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Advocacy for immunization supply chains

Heidi Lasher, PATH

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Date: 14-16 September 2015

Participants: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, PATH, John

Snow Inc., VillageReach

Purpose: To clarify advocacy goals of the Gavi priority work-

ing groups for supply chain improvements and de-

velop initial advocacy strategies.

Group photo from the workshop

Details: On 14-16 September 2015, participants representing Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s five priority

working groups for an immunization supply chain strategy (link opens to PDF) met in Copenha-

gen to develop advocacy strategies for supporting stronger supply chain systems in Gavi-eligible

countries. The workshop, facilitated by PATH, led participants through a ten-step process to

establish policy goals, identify key decision-makers and influencers, find partners, and elaborate

activities to achieve policy change. Recognizing the critical role that supply chains play in improving coverage and access to vaccines,

Gavi priority working groups are supporting the five fundamentals of next-generation supply

chains: Holistic design: Supply chains are designed to optimize the safety, reliability, and efficiency of

immunization and health services. Management: They are led by competent, professionally trained supply chain managers who

can consolidate logistics tasks and direct resources toward activities that improve the effective-

ness or efficiency of the supply chain. Data: They use data from all levels of the supply chain to monitor day-to-day performance and

support evidence-based decision-making. Equipment: They use well-maintained, WHO-prequalified cooling equipment and temperature

monitoring devices and systems to sustain proper temperatures along the supply chain. Continuous improvement: They are continuously improved based on regular, system-wide

assessments and improvement strategies are supported in comprehensive multi-year plans.

Page 8

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Third Regional Vaccinology Course for Francophone countries in the African

region

Dicky Akanmori, Blanche Anya and Richard Mihigo, WHO AFRO

Location: Mbour, Senegal

Date: 14-19 September 2015

Participants: The 47 participants comprised EPI managers,

WHO & UNICEF staff, lecturers of medical & nurs-

ing schools from Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi,

Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Como-

ros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DRC, Gabon, Guinea,

Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo,

as well as members of NITAGs from Burkina Faso. Facilitators were from WHO (AFRO, HQ),

UNICEF, NESI (University of Antwerp) and Stellen-

bosch University.

Purpose: • For participants to master the basis of immuniza-

tion, vaccines under development, introduction to

vaccines and the opportunities and challenges of

immunization programmes. • For participants to acquire knowledge and com-

petencies to advise, train and coordinate capacity

building activities

Group photo from the Vaccinology Course

Details: The GVAP, Regional Immunization Strategic Plan as well as the new transformation agenda of

the WHO secretariat in the Africa region require strong national immunization programmes for

operationalization of future innovations. It is essential to link capacity building for professionals

and academics with service delivery and to harmonize and reinforce pre-service and in-service

training in vaccinology. Within this context the third Regional vaccinology course was conducted. The course was divided into 8 sessions, including the scientific basis of vaccinology, vaccine de-

velopment, EPI vaccines and implementation strategies, production, control, prequalification,

licensure and surveillance, cost-effectiveness and safety, vaccines under development, vaccine

introduction and pre-service training. New ways of effectively reaching adolescents with vaccines such as HPV, against cervical cancer

and tetanus toxoid were also discussed. A wide-range of topics were taught during each session, followed by group work and plenary

discussions. Eleven countries presented their pre-service training experiences. At the end of the course, participants strongly recommended that WHO and partners continue

to provide technical and financial support, disseminate the revised EPI prototype curricula and

support operational research.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 9

AMP provides training to trainers at Benin LOGIVAC Centre

Philippe Jaillard and Hamed Idrissa Traoré, Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP)

Location: Ouidah, Benin

Date: 15-18 September 2015

Participants: Content experts, consultants, short-course train-

ers, logisticians

Purpose: To create a pool of trainers capable of organizing

and facilitating courses offered by the Benin

LOGIVAC Centre and dispensed at the Regional

Institute of Public Health (IRSP) in Ouidah, Benin or

other local institutions.

AMP provides training of trainers at the Regional

Institute of Public Health (IRSP) in Ouidah, Benin

Details: Upon request from the Benin LOGIVAC Centre, the Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP) or-

ganized a training of trainers from 15 to 18 September 2015 at IRSP in Ouidah, Benin. The training brought together content experts, consultants, and other individuals identified to

facilitate short courses at IRSP. Additional participants included people in charge of logistical func-

tions at central and intermediate level and who provide ongoing training to lower-level workers

or supportive supervision. The session, led by Lucile Diermert, cognitive psychologist and instructional designer at AMP’s

training unit, involved educational and interactive presentations, training scenarios, and collabora-

tive workshops. The training ultimately enabled participants to implement adult training, to lead educational and

interactive presentations, to direct collaborative workshops, and to present the courses offered

by the Benin LOGIVAC Centre. Dedicated to improving health through the strengthening of logistics systems in developing coun-

tries and especially in sub-Saharan Africa, the Benin LOGIVAC Centre is the result of a long col-

laboration between AMP and IRSP. The Centre aims to enhance the skills of professionals in

charge of logistics functions within health systems and, to this end, offers diploma and certifica-

tion training programmes.

Page 10

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

The Fourteenth Annual Measles & Rubella Initiative Partners Meeting

James Noe, American Red Cross, Washington DC, USA

Location: Washington DC, USA

Date: 15-16 September 2015

Participants: This year’s meeting was the largest in the

partnership’s history with 136 participants in

attendance representing 63 organizations

actively working towards the elimination of

measles and rubella globally. Organizations

being represented included the American Red

Cross, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention, the United Nations Foundation,

UNICEF, World Health Organization, Lions

Club International, Sabin Vaccine Institute,

PATH, DFID, LDS Charities of the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Gavi the

Vaccine Alliance, and others.

Group photo from the Annual Measles and Rubella

Initiative Partners Meeting

Purpose: The 2015 Measles & Rubella Initiative Annual Partners Meeting focused on the human and finan-

cial cost of measles and rubella and explored what needs to be done to achieve the measles and

rubella goals as outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).

Details: The meeting was hosted by the American Red Cross at National Headquarters. American Red

Cross President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gail McGovern gave the welcoming words

and opened the meeting. She was accompanied on stage by leadership from the five founding

partners of the Measles & Rubella Initiative: Ms Kathy Calvin, President CEO of the UN Founda-

tion; Dr Rebecca Martin, CDC Acting Director Center for Global Health; Dr Jean-Marie Okwo-

Bele, WHO Director Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals; and Mr Henri Van Den Hombergh,

UNICEF Chief Immunization Unit. The leadership was joined by Mr Charles Graeber, a re-

nowned journalist, for a panel discussion to share perspectives on progress to date in achieving a

world without measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome. Additional highlights from Day

One included a keynote address by Dr Paul Offit on the personal efforts of Dr Maurice Hilleman

to develop the measles and rubella vaccines, presentations by WHO including the Director-

General on the global situation analysis and examples from PAHO on how to achieve elimination

goals. Additionally, the founding partners launched a mid-term review at the meeting to assess

how to accelerate activities to reach GVAP goals and held a consultation with the stakeholders

attending the meeting. The day closed with workshops on communicating for impact. The second day of the meeting included an update from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance on their po-

tential future support of measles and rubella activities. While measles coverage has risen global-

ly, it is not on track to meet the 2020 GVAP goals. GAVI’s updated strategy will have a renewed

focus on measles and rubella, with 2016-2020 indicators including MCV1. This session was fol-

lowed by a panel discussion of how to transition the polio infrastructure to support routine im-

munization as well as measles and rubella. Lessons learned from programmes in India and South

Sudan were highlighted. In a later session the economics of measles and rubella were discussed

and noted that we globally spending $2.3 billion per year, not counting treatment, on pro-

grammes focused on high control rather than eradication. The final panel discussion of the day

addressed how individuals can make a difference in eliminating measles and rubella with speakers

from the Nepal Red Cross Society, Shot@Life, and ONE providing examples of individual efforts

directly in the field, in partnership building, fundraising, and advocacy. The meeting concluded

with a call to action that it is time to make a recommitment to measles and rubella elimination.

We can celebrate our sustained successes, but at the same time we must redouble our efforts to

achieve a world without measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome.

The presentations from both days of the meeting will be posted on the Measles & Rubella Initia-

tive website, and can be found at this link.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 11

The Regional Immunization Supply Chain Management Workshop

Hailu Makonnen Kenea, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office

Location: Seattle, Washington DC, USA

Date: 22-26 June 2015

Participants: 43 participants representing 17 countries in

the Eastern and Southern African Countries

Purpose: To building in-country capacity with the neces-

sary skills to address the key Immunization

Supply Chain Management (ISCM) priorities

and challenges and to create awareness of the

Logistics Aspects of the Switch from Trivalent

to Bivalent oral polio vaccine.

Group photo from the Regional immunization Supply

chain management workshop

Details: The introduction of new and more expensive vaccines and the increasing need to expand and reha-

bilitate cold chain to accommodate these vaccines requires improved skills to effectively and effi-

ciently manage supply chain by country programmes. During the past three years, 19 out of 21

countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa have carried out Effective Vaccine Management (EVM)

assessments to review the vaccine supply chain system and to identify strengths and weaknesses so

that targeted interventions can be prioritized. In order to support National Immunization Programmes and their in-country technical partners to

provide better support addressing ISCM challenges, UNICEF ESARO organized a five day ISCM

workshop in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Afri-

ca, UNICEF Supply Division and the Gavi Secretariat. The topics covered included: latest development in ISCM at global, regional and country levels;

stock and distribution management; cold chain equipment technology and inventory management;

temperature monitoring technologies and the use data for action; short and long term planning. The workshop ended with a motto “Let us make the National Vaccine Store meet the EVM re-

quirement”. All participants acknowledge the fact that a "business as usual" attitude no longer

works, taking into consideration the challenges faced by countries. There is a need for a new and

systematic approach, backed by strengthened human resource capacities and assured long term

support from partners.

Page 12

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

WHO European regional meeting of national immunization programme managers

Catharina de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe

Location: Antwerp, Belgium

Date: 1-3 September 2015

Participants: 140 participants, including national immunization

programme managers from 47 of 53 Member

States in the WHO European Region, partners

and international experts on immunization.

Purpose: This meeting offered immunization programme

managers the chance to voice their opinions and

experience, interact with each other and WHO

staff and work together to translate EVAP strate-

gies into national priorities and actions.

Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians (centre)

attended a lecture and panel debate on equitable

access to immunization

Details: Three days of discussion and sharing of experience brought into focus the immunization challeng-

es facing the European Region and progress towards national implementation of the European

Vaccine Action Plan. Discussions focused on promising practice to address the remaining barriers

to full immunization and actions needed to achieve regional goals, such as measles and rubella

elimination and maintenance of polio-free status. Recognizing the strategic importance of this meeting for regional control of vaccine-preventable

diseases, Her Majesty the Queen of the Belgians attended a keynote lecture by Dr Rudi Eggers of

WHO headquarters and a panel discussion on approaches to ensuring equitable access for vul-

nerable and underserved populations. Dr Eggers explained that barriers to full coverage include parental mistrust or limited knowledge

about vaccines, inconvenient or inequitable delivery of vaccines, cost, and lack of trust in health

services and providers. Family characteristics such as income level can also be an important de-

terminant. Overcoming these barriers is a huge task for governments; the European Vaccine Ac-

tion Plan therefore proposes a set of actions at national level to ensure that no person is missed.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 13

Health Care Worker Training in the Integrated Surveillance Information System (ISIS)

Dr Shivon Lewis, Ministry of Public Health-Guyana and Dr Janice Woolford, PAHO-Guyana

Location: Arthur Chung Convention Center, Georgetown,

Guyana

Date: 15-16 September 2015

Participants: 28 senior health visitors, maternal and child health

supervisors and regional health officers from all ten

health regions in Guyana

Purpose: The purpose of the training was to train relevant

health care workers in surveillance for polio, mea-

sles and rubella and the use of the Integrated Sur-

veillance Information Systems (ISIS) database includ-

ing transmission of reports to the central system.

Participants at the Integrated Surveillance Infor-

mation Systems (ISIS) training workshop in Guyana,

September 2015. Credit: Ministry of Health-

Guyana.

Details: The Integrated Surveillance Information System for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) is a data-

base which provides countries with a mechanism for data collection, data analysis and report gener-

ation of epidemiological information and surveillance indicators for poliomyelitis, measles and rubel-

la. It also facilitates electronic transfer of surveillance information within and outside of the country. The methodologies used during the training were didactic lectures, computer trainings with the

database, short quizzes and discussions. Presentations included an overview of the surveillance sys-

tem for VPDs, review of the indicators for measles, rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome and

review of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and indicators. Computer training included demonstra-

tion of the data entry screens of the application, installation and configuration of the system, sample

data entry for suspected measles, rubella and polio cases, entry of laboratory data, use of filters,

generation of reports and uploading/downloading of data to other computers. Discussions were

also held regarding the streamlining of the surveillance system as well as the reporting requirements

to the Caribbean Regional Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and to the sub-regional Expanded Pro-

gramme on Immunization (EPI) office. Participants expressed gratitude for the training and the knowledge gained and pledged to improve

the quality of surveillance for the VPDs in Guyana.

Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO) Global Conference 2015

Samantha Rosoman, Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO)

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

Date: 18-20 September 2015

Participants: 43 CoMO member charity representatives from 26

countries, delegates from the International Vaccine

Access Centre (IVAC), Pfizer and GSK.

Purpose: To bring together CoMO members from across

the globe to learn new strategies in advocacy and

fundraising, the latest advances in the world of

meningitis, as well as to develop plans for the uni-

fied fight against meningitis going forward.

Group photo from the Conference

Details: This conference was the sixth of its kind, bringing together the largest number of countries we have

had so far. Representatives from 26 countries came together to discuss meningitis issues in their

region and specifically facing their organizations. There were presentations provided by members of the CoMO governing council, giving updates on

meningitis success stories, such as that of the MenB vaccine introduction in the UK, and projects,

such as the Life Course Immunization Initiative. There were then updates given on the state of men-

ingitis in different regions, allowing delegates to learn from the successes and struggles in other

parts of the world. Representatives from IVAC, Pfizer and GSK gave updates on the vaccine pipeline, providing an inval-

uable insight for all delegates. The conference concluded with CoMO members developing cohesive

plans for fundraising and advocacy tactics in their regions.

Resources

Page 14

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Introducing Rubella Vaccine into National Immunization Programmes. A step by step guide

(WHO/IVB/15.07)

This document is for national immunization programme managers and immunization partners

involved in operational support.

Its objectives are:

• To guide the policy discussions and operational aspects of the introduction of rubella vaccine

into the routine immunization schedule.

• To provide technical guidance, up-to-date references on global policy, technical justification

and strategic issues related to the introduction and provision of rubella vaccine in the routine

immunization programme.

Narrative report: European Immunization Week 2015 Catharina de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe

With the new European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) in place, regional elimination of measles

and rubella in sight and the global endgame strategy for polio entering its final stages, every

country in the European Region is challenged to stay on course or accelerate efforts to meet

its immunization commitments.

In its 10th anniversary year, European Immunization Week was utilized by Member States in

a variety of ways to support national immunization programmes. This narrative report high-

lights activities and information products developed throughout the Region, including high-

level advocacy, social media campaigns, training of health care workers and press events.

800+ resources on immunization information systems now in the TechNet Resource Library David Oh, WHO HQ consultant

The TechNet Resource Library (TRL), an online repository of useful journal articles, documents, tools, websites, and

other immunization resources, has launched recently with more than 700 resources on immunization information

systems (IIS). Some of the subtopics within IIS include the use of information and

communication technologies (ICT) for logistics management information systems,

electronic immunization registries, and immunization schedule reminder systems,

with resources from a diverse range of partners and stakeholders in the field of im-

munization. In addition to resources on new technologies and pilot projects, there is

a collection of historical resources on IIS systems from the 1980s and beyond, giving

insight into some of the progress that has been made since then, but also some of

the roadblocks that are yet to be overcome.

To help you stay updated on the most recent and relevant publications, a collection

of IIS resources will be posted every month on TechNet-21. Resources from 2015 specifically on the use of ICT in IIS

can be found at this link.

The above collection displays one of the new features in the TRL called "Favourites" that allows you

to compile resources of particular interest to you and group them into folders called “Collections”. You can choose

to keep these collections private, or share them with others. You can have as many collections as you want, and as

many resources per collection as you like.

To create a collection, go to any of the resource pages and click Add to Favourites → Create new collection. You

can also add resources to your existing collections. To access your collections, simply go to the menu bar at the top

of the screen, and click on "Favourites" under Resources tab →TechNet Resource Library.

We hope the 800+ IIS resources, the recent publications, and the “Favourites” feature help immunization managers

share their knowledge and experiences with other partners for more productive collaborations.

If you have not joined TechNet but would like to, please go here. If you are already on TechNet, make sure you

check out the TRL and add your favourite resources to the library!

Report: 29th Meeting of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis

Eradication (RCC) Catharina de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe

The RCC’s 29th meeting, which took place on 9-10 June 2015, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herze-

govina, reviewed annual updates submitted by the Member States of the Region on the status

of national polio eradication programmes.

The RCC concluded, based on available evidence, that there was no wild poliovirus or vaccine-

derived poliovirus transmission in the WHO European Region in 2014, but the risk of importa-

tion and subsequent transmission remains high in some countries. The RCC also identified is-

sues that threatened the future polio-free status of the Region and proposed actions to be

taken by Member States and the Regional Office for reducing the risk of polioviruses circulating

in the Region.

While three Member States were considered to be at high risk of establishing substantial poliovirus transmission in

the event of reintroduction, the current situation in Ukraine is of particular concern. A significant disease outbreak in

any country would threaten the polio-free status of the European Region and present a significant setback to the

Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

To access the report, click on this link.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 15

VIMS Report: Global Vaccine Introduction – September 2015 Linh Nguyen, International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

The September 2015 Vaccine Information Management System (VIMS) Report on Global Vac-

cine Introduction is now available here.

Recent vaccine introduction updates (since May 2015) include:

· Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon, Lesotho, and Portugal introduced pneumococcal conjugate

vaccine (PCV).

· Kiribati introduced rotavirus vaccine. · Benin, Bhutan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Guyana, Kiribati,

TFYR Macedonia, Morocco, Niger, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saint Vincent and the Grena-

dines, Sri Lanka, and Sudan introduced inactivated polio vaccine (IPV).

What is the VIMS Report? The VIMS report displays data and figures on the introduction status of Hib, pneumococcal, rotavirus, and inactivated

polio vaccines both globally and in the 73 Gavi-eligible countries. The images and text in the report describe:

· How many countries have introduced each vaccine or plan to in the future

· National levels of vaccine coverage and access, globally and in Gavi countries

· Vaccine introduction trends over time

· Vaccine introduction status of each of the 194 countries, listed individually

Review of vaccine price data: submitted by WHO European Region Member States through

the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form for 2013 Catharina de Kat-Reynen, WHO Europe

This report is intended to improve the efficiency of vaccine procurement and countries' abilities

to make financially sustainable, informed decisions on procuring vaccine and introducing new

ones.

The report provides a brief overview of the availability and transparency of information on vac-

cine pricing at the country level, the mechanisms for vaccine procurement, the vaccines pro-

cured and price information for each product.

Page 16

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

WHO recommendations on reducing pain at the time of vaccination Hayatee Hasan, WHO HQ

In a new position paper published in today’s edition of the Weekly Epidemiologi-

cal Record, WHO provides recommendations that can be taken to reduce pain

and anxiety during vaccination which can be applied in all countries worldwide.

Pain during vaccination sessions is manageable and managing pain does not de-

crease the efficacy of the vaccine. There are general effective, feasible, non-

costly, culturally acceptable, evidence-based strategies to mitigate pain at the

time of vaccination such as:

Ensuring health-care personnel carrying out vaccination remain calm, collabo-

rative, well informed and avoid using language that increases anxiety, and pro-

motes distrust;

Ensuring proper positioning of the vaccine recipient according to age, for example infants and young children

should be held by the caregiver and for older children and adults to be sitting upright;

When multiple vaccines are injected sequentially in the same session, they should be administered in order of in-

creasing painfulness.

In addition to the above general strategies, several specific recommendations targeted at the different age groups

were also identified such as breast-feeding for infants or distractions using breathing interventions for adults.

Read the position paper here.

A young girl receiving measles vac-

cination. Credit: Measles & Rubella

Initiative/D. Cima.

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015

Page 17

Calendar 2015

October

5-8 EMRO Regional Committee meeting Kuwait City, Kuwait

6-7 4th Measles-Rubella Mini Symposium Decatur, GA USA

6-7 Planning Meeting for Ministerial Conference on Immunization Brazzaville, Congo

7-8 Gavi Programme and Policy Committee Geneva, Switzerland

12-16 Regional Committee for WPRO Guam

14-15 Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) meeting Geneva, Switzerland

14-16 Gavi High Level Review Panel (HLRP) Geneva, Switzerland

20-22 Meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization Geneva, Switzerland

26-29 Fourth meeting of the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles

and Rubella Elimination (RVC)

Copenhagen, Denmark

29 India Expert Advisory Group on Measles and Rubella (IEAG-MR) New Delhi, India

November

3-4 First Regional Dengue Symposium Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

6-20 Gavi Independent Review Committee (IRC) for new proposals Geneva, Switzerland

10-12 Global meeting on lessons learned from HPV vaccine introduction Geneva, Switzerland

10-12 AFRO East & South Gavi Regional Working Group Maseru, Lesotho

16-20 Global IB-VPD and RV Sentinel Surveillance and Laboratory Meetings Geneva, Switzerland

17-20 31st Meeting of Caribbean Immunization Managers Guyana

20 Gavi EURO Regional Working Group Meeting TBD

29-3Dec EMRO Twenty- Ninth Meeting of National Managers of the Expanded Pro-

gramme on Immunization and the Sixteenth Inter-country Meeting on Measles/

Rubella Control and Elimination

Amman, Jordan

December

2-3 Gavi Alliance Board Meeting Kathmandu, Nepal

2-4 AFRO Task Force on Immunization (TFI) TBD

3-4 AFRO West and Central Regional Working Group Libreville, Gabon

5-6 EMRO Meeting of the Regional Technical Advisory Group on Immunization

(RTAG) and Regional Verification Commission (RVC) of Measles Elimination

and Hepatitis B Control

Amman, Jordan

8-9 Vaccine patch meeting Geneva, Switzerland

2016

January

19-20 WPRO Gavi Regional Working Group meeting Manila, Philippines

25-30 Executive Board Geneva, Switzerland

29-2Mar Institut Pasteur Vaccinology course Paris, France

March

15-17 Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum (GVIRF) Johannesburg, South Africa

Page 18

WHO Regional Websites Routine Immunization and New Vaccines (AFRO)

Immunization (PAHO)

Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization (EMRO)

Vaccines and immunization (EURO)

Immunization (SEARO)

Immunization (WPRO)

Newsletters Immunization Monthly update in the African Region (AFRO) Immunization Newsletter (PAHO) The Civil Society Dose (GAVI CSO Constituency) TechNet Digest RotaFlash (PATH) Gavi Programme Bulletin (Gavi)

Organizations and Initiatives American Red Cross Child Survival Agence de Médecine Préventive Africhol EpiVacPlus LOGIVAC Project SIVAC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Polio Global Vaccines and Immunization Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center Vaccine Information Management System JSI Africa Routine Immunization Systems Essentials Project IMMUNIZATIONbasics Immunization Center Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) PAHO ProVac Initiative PATH Vaccine Resource Library Rotavirus Vaccine Access and Delivery Malaria Vaccine Initiative Meningitis Vaccine Project RHO Cervical Cancer

Sabin Vaccine Institute Sustainable Immunization Financing UNICEF Immunization Supplies and Logistics USAID Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program WHO Department of Immunization, Vaccines & Biologicals New and Under-utilized Vaccines Implementation ICO Information Centre on HPV and Cancer Immunization financing Immunization service delivery Immunization surveillance, assessment and monitoring SIGN Alliance Other Coalition Against Typhoid Dengue Vaccine Initiative European Vaccine Initiative Gardasil Access Program Gavi the Vaccine Alliance International Association of Public Health Logisticians International Vaccine Institute Measles & Rubella Initiative Multinational Influenza Seasonal Mortality Study Network for Education and Support in Immunisation (NESI) TechNet-21 Vaccines Today

UNICEF Regional Websites Immunization (Central and Eastern Europe)

Immunization (Eastern and Southern Africa)

Immunization (South Asia)

Immunization (West and Central Africa)

Child survival (Middle East and Northern Africa)

Health and nutrition (East Asia and Pacific)

Health and nutrition (Americas)

Links

Global Immunization News (GIN) September 2015